Retrievable anchor



May 22, 1956 R. ROBERTS RETRIEVABLE ANCHOR Filed March 26, 1954 INVENTORRo BERT ROBERTS ATTORNEYS `vent the 1Vloss of the anchor and the -5 ofFigure to a retrievable or releasable anchor.

It is an object of this invention to provide an anchor which can beretrieved should the anchor tines become wedged under rocks or otherobstructions and thus prerope or chain that This invention relates' toanchors and more particularly secures the anchor tothe boat.

. It is a further, object of this invention to provide a retrievable orreleasable anchor which, upon being wedged in an underwater obstruction,can vbe retrieved from any position in the boat, opposite to the holdingposition, thereby eliminating danger attendant-to attempting to disnitedStates Patent O Patented May 22, `1956 ice N t movement of the clevisand the anchor base in their lodge the conventional solid type anchor`from underwater obstructions while in a small boat.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide aretrievable or releasable anchor in which the several parts thereof maybe readily dismantledy for convenience of transportation or for packing`and storage.

p Yet another object of this invention is to provide a retrievableanchor in which the anchor is so constructed that it insures that afisherman or small boat operator lwill have an anchor that will performits intended purpose and yet will not become lost due to being wedged"in an underwater obstruction.

` Another and still further object of this invention is the provision ofa retrievable anchor wherein the shear pin which breaks when abnormalstress is applied to the anchor can be readily and easily replaced so asto provide and insure the normal functioning of the anchor for furtheruse. j

-Other objects andadvantages will become apparent i `from the followingdetailed description, forming the speciiication, and taken inconjunctionwith the accompany- Aing drawing, in which:

, v Figure l is a front elevational view of the anchor embodying thisinvention, being partially broken away;

Figure 2 is a bottomplan view;

`Figure 3` is a side elevational view;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectionalfview taken on line 4 4 of Figurel and shownona lsomewhat enlarged scale; and j j Figure 5 is avertical'cross sectional view taken on line 3 and shown onV a somewhatenlarged scale. t

With continued referenceto the drawings, there's shown an anchor,generally indicated at 10, which comthreads 56.

prises a stem` or shank 12 having adjacent one end thereof an elongatedclosed slot 14 therethrough for receiving one end of an anchor line orchain, a two-way clevis 16 carried by the stem 12 at the end thereofremote from the end having the slot 14 therethrough for movement in `anarcuate path about fan axis perpendicular tothe stem,

an anchor base, generally indicated at 18 having a plurality ofconcavo-convex tines 20` extending radially fromY a central body or hub22 and carried by the two-way clevis 16 adjacent the end thereof remotefrom the stem 12 for movement in an arcuatepath about an axisperpendicular to the clevis 16 and the stem 12 and at right arcuatepaths, thus permitting dislodgement of the an-V chor 10 when it becomeswedged in an underwater obstacle. t

The stern or shank 12 is provided at its end remote from the slot 14with a longitudinally extending tongue 26 extending along itslongitudinal center line and of a lesser thickness than the thickness ofthe stem 12, and the distal end28 of the tongue is rounded' from `onelongitudinal edge thereof to the other. t

The tongue 26 is received between the legs 30 and 32 of the upperU-shaped portion 34 of the two-way clevis and a clevis pin 36 passesthrough aligned and registering openings through the legs 30 and 32 andthe tongue 26 so as to mount the clevis 16 on the stem 12 for movementin an arcuate path about an axis defined bythe centerline of the`transversely extending clevis pin36 which is perpendicular to thelongitudinal center line of the stem 12 so that the two-way clevis 16 iscarried by the stem 12 for movement in an arcuate path about an axisperpendicular thereto. It should be noted that the radius orrounded end28 Vofthe tongue 26 has been so formed so'as to permit the movement ofthe two-way clevis in its arcuate path aboutthe axis provided by theclevis pin 36. The clevis pin 36 has an enlarged circular head 38 at oneend which is in.` face to face engagement with the outer side of the leg30 -and the end of the shank of the clevis pin remote from the head 38receives thereon a washer 40 adapted to abutagainst the `outer surfaceof the adjacent side of the leg 32, and the clevispin 36 istpreventedfrom relative longitudinal movement transversely of the upper portion 34of the clevis' and the tongue 26 by a cotter pin 42 which is receivedinan opening transversely through the shank of the clevis pin 36 adjacentits endremote from the head 38 and closely adjacent the washer 40.

The lower portion 44 is similarly formed to the upper portion 34 of thetwo-way clevis pin 16 and has a pair of spaced parallel legs 46 and 48'extending in a direction away from the direction in which the 'legs 30and 32 extend and disposed in right angular Vrelation thereto. Thus, thelower portion 44 is also U-shaped and receives in the space between thelegs 46 and 48 a swivel lug 50 having the terminal end thereofY receivedin the-space .between the legs rounded from one longitudinal edgethereof to the other so as to define a radius end 52. The lug 50 extendsbeyond the free ends of the legs 46 and 48 andhas its end 54 providedwith external screw A clevis pin 58, similar in all respects to theclevis pin 36, extends transversely through aligned and registeredopenings through the legs 46 and 48 of the lower portion 44 and throughthe swivel lug 50 so that the swivel lug is carried by the clevis at theend thereof remote from the stem 12 for movement in an arcuate pathabout an axis defined by the center line of the clevis pin 58 which isperpendicular to the longitudinal center line through the stem 12 andclevis 16 and at` right angles to the arcuate path of movement of theclevis 16. The clevis` pin 58 is similarly prevented from relativelongitudinal movementtransversely of the lower portion 44 of the clevisand the portion of the swivel lug 50 extending within the lower portionof the clevis by a cotter pin 60 received in a suitable transverselyextending opening adjacent a washer 62 received on the end of the shankof the clevis pin remote from the enlarged head 64 thereof.

It is appropriate, before discussion of the remaining components of thedevice, to consider the particular formation of the two-way clevis,since the shape of the clevis is particularly adapted for the receptionof the shear pin 24. The clevis includes, medially between opposite endsthereof, a rectangular fiat, connecting or bight portion 65, lying in aplane midway ybetween and paralleling those in whichthe pivot pin-scarried by said clevis extend. The flat connecting portion 65 is of athickness such as to permit disposition of a substantial part of thelength of the shear pin therein, to assure that either end of the shearpin can be broken oft without necessarily involving a breakage of theopposite end thereof. Integral with and projecting upwardly from onepair of opposite side edges of the rectangular connecting ,portion 65are the legs 30, 32 previously described herein. Integral with anddepending vfrom the other two side edges of the connecting portion arelthe legs 46, 48 of the clevis. The connecting portion, being ofappreciable thickness as previously noted, extends as a spacer betweenthe adjacent, shear-pin-engaged tongue 28 and the swivel lug 50. As willbe described in detailhereinafter, the shear pin is, as a result, thenextendable through a center opening of the connecting or bight portion65 into registering recesses of said tongue and swivel lug.

AThe body or hub portion ZZ has a central apreture 66 therethrough toreceive that portion of the swivel 50 extending beyond the lower portion44 of the clevis 16 and is retained on the swivel lug 50 by means of anut 68 threadingly engaging the screw threads 56 formed externally alongthe end 54 of the lug remote from the clevis 16. A drive pin 70 isinserted in aligned openings through the nut 68 and the threaded portion54 of the swivel lug 50 thus securing the nut on the swivel lug andpreventing the nut from becoming disengaged with the swivel lug as theanchor base 18 rotates in a closed arcuate path about the longitudinalcenter line of the swivel lug Svas anaxis.

Theradius end 28 of the tongue 26 is provided with a recess 72 extendingpartially therein and along the longitudinal center line thereof toreceive one end of the shear pin 24 while the two-way clevis 16 has abore 74 therethrough extending along the longitudinal center linethereof and opening at one end to the space between the spaced parallellegs 39 and 32 and opening at its other end to the space between thelegs 46 and 48 of the respective upper and .lower .portions 34 and 44 ofthe clevis, and the bore 74 is adapted to register with the recess 72. Arecess 76 is provided in the radius end 52 of the swivel lug 50 andextends partially therein along the' longitudinal center line vthereofand is in register with ythe bore '74. The shear pin k24 extends withinthe bore 74 and the opposite ends thereof are respectively received inthe recesses 72 and 76 so that theV shear pin 24 will extend along thelongitudinal center line through the anchor 10 and forni a rigidconnection between the stem, clevis and swivel lug or anchor base toprevent movement of the clevis 16 and the anchor base 22 in theirarcuate paths of movement. With regard to the arcuate path of movementofthe anchor base 1S, it will be observed that specifically, it isthe-swivel pin 50 which is mounted to move in an arcuate path about anaxis prependicular to the stem and clevis.

It will be observed that the body or hub 22 of the anchor base 18 isprovided with a central reces-s or well 'lopening to the side thereofremote from the clevis 16 to house therewithin the nut 68 so that theuut 63 does not project outwardly beyond the side of the hub 2.2 remotefrom the clevis 16 thus providing more efficient operation of the anchorbase 18.

The shear pin 24 is of suicient strength to hold the various elements ofthe anchor 10 rigidly together when in normal use, however, when thetines Zt) of the anchor base' 21.8 become wedged or snagged upon anunderwater obstacle, there will be an abnormal force upon the anchor 10Iwhich will be transmitted to the shear pin V24 thus causing 4the shearpin to break and the clevis and the anchor base will be permitted tomove in their arcuate paths so that extraction of the anchor 10 alongwith the anchor line or chain connected thereto can be readily dislodgedfrom the obstruction to thus save the anchor 10 and the associatedanchor line by retrieving the same.

After the shear pin has been broken by the anchor base 18 becominglodged in an underwater obstacle, and the anchor 10 has been retrived,it is a. simple matter to replace the broken shear pin 24 since it willbe apparent that the various elements of the anchor 1t) can be easilyremoved and taken apart. To disassemble the anchor 10 it is merelynecessary to remove the clevis pins 3S and 58. With the anchor thu-sdisassembled, a replacement for the broken shear pin 24 can be insertedin the bore 74 and the parts reassembled in the reverse order to thedisassembling. The anchor 10 will then be in condition for further usein the normal manner.

It will be appreciated that the various parts of the anchor 10 areformed of a material of suicient size and strength to withstand the usefor which it is intended, taking into consideration the size of the boatwith which it is to be employed as well as the nature of the bottom ofthe body of water where the boat is being used.

While there are shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that the structure is susceptible tochange and modification Within the practicability of the invention andtherefore should be limited to the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A retrievable boat anchor comprising a stern, a twoway clevis carriedby said stem for movement in an arcuate path about an axis perpendicularto the stem, an anchor base rotatably carried by said clevis at the endthereof remote Vfrom said stern for movement in an arcuate path about anaxis perpendicular to said clevis and at right angles to the path ofmovement of said clevis, and a shear pin interposed between ysaid stem,clevis and anchor base to normally prevent movement of said clevis andsaid base in their arcuate paths, said pin adapted to shear underabnormal stress to permit movement of said clevis and said anchor basein their arcuate paths.

2. An anchor comprising a stem; a clevis connected at one end to thestem for pivotal movement about a first axis `perpendicular to thelength of the stem; an anchor base connected to the other end of theclevis for pivotal movement about a second axis normal both to thelength of the stem and Ito the first axis; and a single shear pinaligned coaxially with the stem between and perpendicularly to bothaxes, having an intermediate portion engaged in the clevis, one endportion engaged in the stem, and its other end portion engaged in thebase to normally hold'the clevis against movement relative to the stemand the base against movement relative to the clevis, each end portionof the pin being adapted to shear from the intermediate portionindependently of the other end portion.

3. An anchor comprising a stem; a clevis comprising a ilat connectingportion, a pair of first legs extending from A,said connecting portionin one direction in parallel planes normal to that of saidxportion and apair of second legs extending from the connecting portion in an oppositedirection and disposed in planes normal to those of the irst legs, saidconnecting por-tion being formed centrally 'thereof with an opening, thestem including at one end a tongue extending between the .rst legs andhaving a free end terminating `adjacent one face of the connectingportion vand formed with a recess; an anchor base including a `swivellug extending between the second legs and having a free end terminatingadjacent the opposite face of the clevis, said swivel lug having arecess in said free end thereof; a ypin extending through the first legsand said tongue and pivotally connecting the tongue to the rst legs forswinging movement about an axis paralleling the plane of the connectingportion; a second pin extending through y 1 p i 2,746,414

the Isecond legs andV said swivel lug and connecting the swivel lug tothe second legs for swinging movement about an axis also parallel to theplane of the bight portion bu-t normal to the frst axis; and a singleshear pin having an intermediate portion engaged in said opening oftheconnecting portion, one end portion engaged in the recess of Ithetongue, and its other end portion engaged in the reoess of the swivellug to normally hold the clevis against movement relative to the sternand the base against movement relative to the clevis, each end portionof the pin being adapted to shear from the intermediate portionindependently of the other end portion. Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hausler July 27, 1915 Bernard Dec. 14, 1926 GibbDec. 15, 1931 McLeland Oct. 30, 1934 Filbyv Iune 18, 1940 FOREIGNPATENTS Y Great Britain of 1898 Netherlands Feb. 16, 1953 France Jan.11, 1939

